Sickening! An UWS co-op is blocking the city from inspecting for Legionnaires

Is there something in the water?

A tony Upper West Side co-op is blocking city inspectors from testing for Legionella bacteria, according to a new lawsuit filed by the city.

Inspectors say they’ve been denied entry to the building at 28-30 West 74th Street 10 times since May.

Now the city is suing for a court order to get inspectors inside.

A two-bedroom duplex apartment in the building is currently in contract for $1.9 million. The five-story Upper West Side building was was designed by architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, who also worked on the original Waldorf-Astoria and the Dakota.

There were 59 reports of Legionnaires’ disease in Manhattan last year, according to the city’s suit. Two people died.

Legionella bacteria is water-born, and city health inspectors are supposed to check cooling towers every three months. They’ve found signs of it in other Upper Manhattan water towers.

Department of Health deputy commissioner Demetre Daskalakis says in the new suit that an inspection at the building is necessary for “to protect human life and health,” according to the New York Post.

A rep from the building told the Post she thinks the building is “in compliance” and the building’s management has been in touch with the city to schedule an inspection. [NYP] —Decca Muldowney